Commuter omnibuses at Basch Street Terminus (Egodini) in Bulawayo recently

Pamela Shumba/Prince Sunduzani, Chronicle Reporters
THE Basch Street Terminus in Bulawayo, popularly known as Egodini, will be closed from today to pave way for the construction of a multi-million dollar mall, with informal traders and commuter omnibus operators relocating to other sites.

The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) yesterday said the closure of the terminus would pave way for the commencement of the $60 million project being undertaken by Terracotta Trading (Private) Limited.

“The City of Bulawayo would like to advise commuters, stakeholders, commuter omnibus operators, informal traders and residents that the Basch Street Terminus (Egodini) will be closed from Tuesday 20 March 2018 to pave way for the construction of the Egodini Mall.

“The redevelopment of the transportation interchange is expected to take 15 months. During the redevelopment of Egodini, temporary pick up points and termini have been established and these will complement existing termini,” said the BCC in a statement.

It said new designated sites have been identified and handed over to commuter omnibus operators and informal traders to allow smooth operations in the city.

“These new facilities have been handed over to bona fide companies registered and recognised by the council and no one else is allowed to use these facilities without the permission of the council.

“Offending operators and commuters will be arrested and prosecuted in terms of the law. The City of Bulawayo would like to encourage members of the public to kindly use the designated sites,” BCC said.

Council has already finished preparing new vending sites and kombi termini.

The local authority’s senior public relations officer, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu, said vendors and transport operators can now move into the new working areas.

She said the relocation process was being conducted by a technical team comprising of BCC officers and informal traders’ representatives.

A survey conducted by The Chronicle showed that vendors had started using the new bays along Sixth Avenue and Lobengula Street.

“The City of Bulawayo has completed the marking of bays and surfacing of the new termini. Discussions have been ongoing with the informal traders to ensure smooth relocation to the new sites,’ said Mrs Mpofu.

According to a relocation plan issued by the city council, Bellevue and Pumula commuter omnibuses have been moved to Lobengula Street between 11th and 13th Avenue while all commuter omnibuses using Luveve Road will now be ranking at Lobengula Street and 3rd Avenue.

The commuter omnibuses using the Richmond route will be relocated to City Hall while those using routes to the northern areas of the city will operate from Lobengula Street and 2nd Avenue.

Other selected transport operators and informal traders will be moved to Lobengula Street and 6th Avenue. The city council said its engagements with stakeholders will continue.

@pamelashumba1

@PrinceNkosy102

The perimeter wall which collapsed and killed 8-year-old Nkosiphile Ncube in Suburbs, Bulawayo, on Saturday

Thandeka Moyo/ Whinsley Masara, Chronicle Reporters
AN eight-year-old boy from Bulawayo died after a perimeter wall collapsed and buried him while he was playing at his home, police confirmed yesterday.

Nkosiphile Ncube, who was a Grade Two pupil at Indlovu Iyanyathela Primary School, died upon arrival at Mater Dei Hospital on Saturday.

The Chronicle visited the boy’s family at their Suburbs home yesterday where his mother Ms Promise Ncube narrated how the incident happened.

“He was playing outside the house on Saturday and riding his bicycle. The perimeter wall just collapsed and fell on him,” she said.

“Unfortunately the wall was too heavy and when he was rescued from the rubble, he was failing to breathe. He was taken to Mater Dei where he was declared dead on arrival”.

Ms Ncube said the family was shattered and failing to come to terms with the tragedy.

“We are not sure what really caused the wall to collapse but since these structures are old, we have accepted that it was just a normal accident,” she said.
Ms Ncube said Nkosiphile would be buried in the city today.

Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango confirmed the incident.

The late Nkosiphile Ncube

“We received a report where a boy was buried by a perimeter wall while playing. When his aunt heard the wall crumbling, she came out of the house and rescued him.

“Unfortunately the boy was declared dead upon arrival at Mater Dei Hospital,” said Insp Simango.

Meanwhile, in an unrelated incident, an eight-months pregnant woman collapsed and died in the Bulawayo city centre yesterday.

The woman from Queens Park suburb was on her way from a doctor’s surgery for a checkup in the company of her two siblings.

The deceased, who cannot be named because most of her close relatives have not yet been notified, collapsed along Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street and 4th Avenue.

When The Chronicle arrived at the scene minutes before she died, passersby were trying to call an ambulance. The woman was lying on the pavement and appeared to be struggling to breathe.

One of the woman’s sisters, who was crying uncontrollably, said they had just walked out of a nearby surgery but her sister had not been treated as she had been referred to seek help from other doctors.

“We have just come out of this surgery where they said they couldn’t help her. She sometimes experiences difficulties in breathing.

“As we walked out of the surgery, she asked us to allow her to rest as she couldn’t breathe. She is getting worse and I am scared she can die here, she can’t leave us just like that,” said the woman who sobbed uncontrollably.

As passersby argued about what to do, the woman died.

“It was sad to watch someone die helplessly because it actually took more than 30 minutes for an ambulance to be called and arrive at the scene,” said a witness.

@thamamoe

@winnie_masara

President Mnangagwa

Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday released names of individuals and corporates who failed to heed his call to return externalised funds to the tune of more than $826 million.

President Mnangagwa named the individuals and corporates after his amnesty for externalisers to return the country’s looted funds lapsed.

Former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Divisional Officer, Mr Elias Musakwa, was named for externalising $9 million to Portugal on the list which has 157 individuals and companies.

Companies in the mining, agriculture and manufacturing sectors mainly constituted externalisers of funds through non-repatriation of export proceeds, with African Associated Mines Mining topping the list for externalising over $62 million followed by Marange Resources Mining which allegedly illegally exported about $54 million.

Gold Driven Tobacco salted away over $10 million.

A total of $237,452,276 was externalised by 284 institutions in this category.

Most of the culprits fell in the category of institutions that externalised cash for imports but did not deliver their imported products.

A total of 1 403 companies are listed in this group, externalising a total of $124,846,957.

In this category, Ekusileni Medical Centre in Bulawayo came first for spiriting over $3 million out of the country followed by Mosdek Investments Pvt Ltd which externalised over $2,9 million.

Fuel Cafe Trading (Pvt) Ltd came third, externalising more than $2,4 million.

The funds transferred to foreign banks in cash under the spurious circumstances category was dominated by individuals who sent their loot to China and Botswana among other countries to the tune of $464,204,171.

The moratorium to return looted funds started on December 1 and ended at the end of February.

However, the President extended the grace period by two weeks on March 3.

In a statement, President Mnangagwa said he was naming the individuals and companies for failing to heed his call for the return of funds.

“Thus, despite concerted efforts by authorities and banks to request these entities and individuals to account for the externalised funds, the entities or individuals failed, ignored or neglected to respond to the Amnesty,” said the President.

“It is against this background that the Authorities have no recourse to cause these entities and individuals to respond, other than to publicise the names of the entities and individuals so that the concerned parties take heed of the importance of good corporate governance and the legal obligation of the citizenry and where necessary, to ensure that those responsible for such illicit financial flows are brought to justice.”

He said the RBZ is ready to clear names of individuals and corporates who produce financial statements of their transactions.

“The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is ready to process transactions where the concerned parties can show proof of declaration and or repatriation of funds without prejudice given that the burden of proof lies with the concerned parties,” Cde Mnangagwa said.

“This is despite the fact that ample time was granted under the amnesty period to account for and repatriate all externalised funds.”

Last Friday, the President revealed that nearly $300 million had been returned while externalisers who had invested the funds in foreign countries to the tune of $680 million were negotiating on how to bring back the money.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE FULL LIST

@nqotshili

President Mnangagwa

Lincoln Towindo in KIGALI, Rwanda
Zimbabwe’s economy is showing signs of recovery and growth owing to Government’s aggressive economic reform agenda since the dawn of the new political dispensation, President Mnangagwa has said.

Addressing Zimbabweans living and working in Rwanda on Monday night, the President said the performance of the economy in the first three months of the year pointed towards gradual economic stabilisation and prospects for growth.

The President is here attending the African Union (AU) Extraordinary Session of Heads of State and Government, which convenes today at Kigali Convention Centre.

The 23 percent increase in foreign currency receipts in the three months to March, President Mnangagwa said, indicated that the economy was primed for growth.

He described the exponential growth in demand for foreign currency by industry, especially for importing raw materials, as a sign of “good challenges” as this showed a recovering industrial base.

On Friday, he said, the Government would be announcing a multi-billion dollar mining deal with a yet-to-be-named investor.

“Our industry is behind; most of the industries are, in terms of capacity utilisation, below 50 percent,” said President Mnangagwa. “We tried to improve the industry and commerce environment by introducing Statutory Instrument 64, which has done a lot of good.

“We now know within the first quarter, whereas we would be spending something like $6 billion for imports against $4 billion exports, I understand now we have reduced the import bill by $2 billion as a result of SI 64.

“But we still need to retool our industries because we still have obsolete technology in that area. But, as the environment has improved, our people, industry and commerce, as they expand, wanting more raw materials to feed the industries, there is demand for foreign currency and we don’t have that.

“Of course for foreign currency, just this period of three months has grown by 23 percent, but even so the import side has grown three times more.

“So, the challenges we are facing are good challenges because they are challenges for  growth.”

President Mnangagwa said Government would embark on far-reaching infrastructure projects through public-private partnerships (PPPs).

“We need to dualise our highways between Beitbridge, Harare and Chirundu and between Beitbridge, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls; and between Mutare, Harare and Plumtree and so on – something like 4 000 kilometres of roads internally which need to get either widened or dualised,” he said.

“I think you know (Finance Minister Patrick) Chinamasa doesn’t have the funds to fund all these projects, so we have given (Minister                                  Joram) Gumbo the leeway to go for BOT (Build, Operate, Transfer) and PPPs, and he is busy doing that and there are so many roads now under bid.”

The Head of State and Government indicated that although the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) had taken delivery of 157 wagons and locomotives, the parastatal was still struggling to cope with the movement of cargo, which he said was a sign that the economy was beginning to respond.

Zimbabwe and Botswana, he said, had agreed to jointly fund the construction of a railway line linking Zimbabwe and the north of Beira.

President Mnangagwa said Government was crafting a new diamond industry policy to ensure that it gets the maximum possible benefit from the extraction of the resource.

“Investors can come and invest in any other mineral, except diamonds and platinum, where we are interested as the State,” he said. “We guard diamonds because we are crafting a diamond industry policy after looking at South Africa, Botswana and Namibia.

“We had diamond production before, but we didn’t know how that industry works, so a lot of things happened in that area.”

Further, President Mnangagwa pledged to highten the investment drive when he visits China next month, where he has been invited by President Xi Jinping.

The President was accompanied by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo; Industry, Commerce and Enterprise Development Minister Dr Mike Bimha and Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Dr Gumbo.

Whinsley Masara, Chronicle Reporter
A NINE year old girl from Lupane allegedly teamed up with her Grade One neighbour and tied her four year old sister’s hands and legs with strips of bark (ingxoza) before beating her to death with a stick.

They allegedly left the body in a bush, went home and pretended as if nothing had happened.

The names of the children have been withheld for ethical reasons.

Villagers organised a search party after the four-year-old ECD pupil at Ndwande Primary School, failed to return home on Monday.

Her sister allegedly did not tell her grandmother (50), name also withheld to protect the identity of the minors, that her sibling was no more as villagers frantically organised the search party.

Villagers said the elder sister often told her friends she hated her younger sibling because she pretended to be better than everyone else, simply because she had come from South Africa.

The tragedy occurred between 3 and 6PM on Monday and the villagers found the body around midnight on the same day.

The siblings’ parents are both based in South Africa.

A Chronicle news crew arrived at Ndwande Village under Chief Mabhikwa around 1PM yesterday, moments after police had taken the body away.

The granny could hardly speak.

She, however, rallied herself and said both girls had missed lessons on Monday as she had travelled to Lupane Centre for some business.

“As soon as I arrived home around 6PM I noticed that the younger girl was missing and I asked her sister of her whereabouts.

“She said she didn’t know where her sister was. I relaxed a bit thinking she was at one of our neighbours’ homes.

“As it became darker I got worried and started looking for her at our neighbours’. The Grade One boy eventually revealed they had left her sleeping in the bush,” said the elderly woman.

She said the four-year-old girl had recently been sent home from South Africa while she had lived with the elder one since she was a baby.

“I returned home and questioned the elder sister about her sibling’s whereabouts. She fled from the house. We discovered her sleeping in the pig sty early this morning,” said the old woman.

“My husband and I interrogated the Grade One boy. He told us the elder girl tied her sister’s hands and legs together and they beat her up until she looked dead. He directed us to the scene where we found her lifeless body,” she said.

A neighbour, Mr Themba Ncube said villagers were shaken by the incident.

“The younger boy didn’t realise they had killed someone or done something bad.

“That’s why he explained, in a rather excited manner, what they had done while the older one vanished from  home.

“The boy explained, demonstrating how they had beaten his neighbour up.

“He said when she stopped moving they tried to carry her but she was very heavy,” said Mr Ncube.

The children, he said, grabbed the younger girl’s legs and dragged her for about 250 metres.

He said they eventually gave up, dumped the body and went to their homes.

Ndwande Primary School development committee chairperson Mr Never Ngwenya said what the children had done was shocking and unbelievable.

“They will both need serious counselling,” said Mr Ngwenya.

Teachers at the school expressed shock over the incident saying the deceased girl had been enrolled about two months back.

The police Victim Friendly Unit took the two children to Lupane Police Station.

@winnie_masara

The Basch Street Terminus in Bulawayo was by yesterday afternoon deserted as commuter omnibuses moved out to pave way for the construction of a mall at the site

Pamela Shumba, Senior Reporter
AN official contact centre will next month be established near the Basch Street Terminus in Bulawayo to cater for job seekers who wish to work on the construction of the Egodini Mall.

The contractor of the mall, Terracotta, yesterday finally occupied the site to commence construction, with all the commuter omnibus operators and informal traders having vacated the area.

The project is expected to create over 1 500 jobs for Bulawayo residents and subcontract local companies for various services.

The Bulawayo City Council senior public relations officer, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu, yesterday said the contact centre will go a long way in protecting job seekers from bogus employers.

“We don’t want a situation where dubious people will take advantage of the project and swindle job seekers of their money in the pretext that they’ll secure jobs for them here.

“An official call centre will therefore be open to the public on April 1, where job seekers and service providers can drop their papers and access all the official information they need about the project,” said Mrs Mpofu.

In 2016 Bulawayo Mayor Martin Moyo castigated councillors who were allegedly demanding money from residents and promising to secure jobs for them when construction of the Egodini Mall begins.

Job seekers had reported to the mayor that some councillors were demanding up to $50 per head from job seekers.

The social media has also been awash with messages calling for applications from job seekers.

Meanwhile, Terracotta and Bulawayo City Council officials toured the empty site yesterday to start preparations for the project.

Mrs Mpofu said yesterday’s meeting at the site was to plan the commencement of the construction and secure the area.

“Terracotta is ready to start the construction and our officials from various departments are working with them. We’re happy that the construction project has finally commenced.

“Security details will be deployed here to make sure that there are no disturbances. The new pick-up points in the different areas have been well received by commuter omnibus operators,” said Mrs Mpofu.

She said operations to remove commuter omnibus operators from undesignated pick up points will continue, as the council tries to restore order in the city.

She also urged commuter omnibus operators to join associations that are working with the city council so that there is smooth communication and better transport services in the city.

“We want order in the city and we want to see public transport services improving. Commuter omnibus operators are therefore encouraged to join at least one of the associations that work with the council so that we operate in a professional way.

“We have a public transport policy that requires transport operators to join at least one association that is recognised by the city council so that we improve public transport services in the city,” said Mrs Mpofu.

Mr Thabani Moyo from Terracotta said he was excited that the construction project was finally starting, adding that the first phase of the project will take 15 months to complete.

“This is what we’ve been waiting for. We’re excited that the time to start the construction of the mall has finally come. We’ve come a long way and we appreciate the support we’ve received from the city council and various stakeholders.

“The project will be constructed in three phases and the first phase will be complete in 15 months,” said Mr Moyo.

The South African civil engineering firm won the tender for the $60 million project but has had a number of false starts which has seen the project failing to commence for close to five years after it was approved.

@pamelashumba1

Three of the armed robbers before their court appearance in Bulawayo yesterday

Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Court Reporter
FOUR injiva linked to an organised syndicate of armed robbers who raided shops in Bulawayo and terrorised residents, seizing about $7 200 in cash and 18 grammes of gold, were yesterday jailed for a combined 120 years.

The gun-toting quartet was involved in a spate of armed robberies around Bulawayo targeting homes and shops.

They teamed up with suspects who are still at large and raided TM Pick ‘n’ Pay Supermarket in Northend, Morningside Supermarket and Choppies Supermarket in Pumula South suburb where they got away with varying amounts of money, groceries and an assortment of whiskey brands between March 4 and March 16 this year.

Mqondisi Moyo (34), Ndabezinhle Ndlovu (24), Zenzo Sibanda (34) and Nkosiwonke Ncube (28) all based in South Africa were convicted on their own pleas of guilty to armed robbery by Bulawayo regional magistrate Mrs Sibongile Marondedze.

In passing the sentences, Mrs Marondedze who presided over the cases divided into four records ruled that the four men were a danger to society and deserved lengthy prison terms.

“In assessing the sentence, the court took into account both mitigatory and aggravating circumstances. Robbery is a serious offence which is prevalent these days and therefore calls for a deterrent sentence. What is aggravating is that the accused persons armed themselves with a firearm and crossed the border with the sole purpose of causing havoc and terror in Bulawayo and instilling fear in residents,” she said.

“The accused persons robbed the complainants in a movie style, which could be a clear indication that they first watched an action packed movie before engaging in this spate of armed robberies.”

Moyo and Ndlovu, the masterminds of the gang who took part in all the crimes, were incarcerated for a combined effective 64 years.

The other members of the gang, Sibanda and Ncube were jailed for a combined effective 32 years.

The four men, in mitigation, told the court that poverty drove them to use an illegally acquired firearm smuggled from South Africa to instil fear in their victims before robbing them.

They were each sentenced to 10 years in jail for each count of which two years were suspended in each count for five years on condition that they do not within that period commit similar offences.

Ncube, the youngest in the gang, got the least sentence of an effective eight years while Sibanda will serve an effective 24 years in jail.

Prosecuting, Mr Simbarashe Manyiwa said between March 4 and March 16, the armed robbers connived and went on a robbery spree.

“On March 4 this year at around 7.24PM, Moyo and Ndlovu who were in company of two accomplices only identified as Mike and Rangeman both still at large, hired a Honda Fit pirate taxi (registration number ACT 2570) to Morningside suburb,” he said.

The court heard that on arrival, they ordered the driver of the pirate taxi to park a few metres away from Morningside Supermarket before they disembarked and walked to the supermarket.

“Ncube produced a pistol and ordered everyone who was in the shop to lie down. The accused persons ransacked the shop and stole $1 380 and several bottles of whiskey before they fled from the scene,” said Mr Manyiwa.

They were, however, captured on CCTV cameras while committing the offence.

Two days later, the gang went to Ms Silethemba Dube’s house in Pumula North in the evening. Moyo and Ndlovu remained outside while their accomplices got inside. They produced a pistol and demanded money from Ms Dube. They force marched her to her bedroom where they opened a handbag and stole $240 and R2 800.

On March 12 at around 7.30PM, Moyo, Ndlovu and Sibanda in the company of Mike, Rangeman and one Mandla, went to Choppies Supermarket in Pumula South armed with a pistol. They fired shots in the air and ordered shoppers and employees to lie down before they ransacked cash register machines and went away with $768.

Two days later, the gang went to a homestead in Hope Fountain on the outskirts of Bulawayo and robbed the owner of 18 grammes of gold and $3 000.

On the following day, Moyo, Ndlovu, Sibanda and Ncube teamed up with their accomplices who are still at large. They went to a house in Mahatshula suburb masquerading as police officers and produced a pistol before ordering occupants to lie down.

“They raided the house and took a solar panel, solar battery, laptop, a smartphone, a welding machine, a passport and $1 400,” said Mr Manyiwa.

On March 16 at around 7.30PM, the accused persons drove to TM Pick ‘n’ Pay Supermarket in Northend. On arrival they fired a single shot in the air and ordered everyone who was in the shop to lie down.

They stole $200, which was in the till machines and bolted out of the shop before jumping into their gateway car, a Mazda Demio registration number ACL 7100 and sped off.

On March 18, acting on a tip-off, detectives arrested the accused persons while they were drinking beer at Highlanders Clubhouse. Two of the accused persons were injured after police opened fire as they tried to flee. A 9mm pistol whose serial numbers had been erased was recovered with two rounds of ammunition

@mashnets

The students are demonstrating against university authorities for allegedly exempting students from the Department of Development Studies from paying accommodation fees.

Auxilia Katongomara

STUDENTS at Lupane State University, based at the institution’s campus in Lupane, are demonstrating against university authorities for allegedly exempting students from the Department of Development Studies from paying accommodation fees.

Watch videos below

The students, who held a peaceful demonstration against the same issue last Friday, began demonstrating Wednesday morning at the Vice Chancellors’ offices.

The students began demonstrating in the morning at the Vice Chancellors’ offices.

They vowed to continue picketing until the matter has been addressed.

The demonstrators reportedly had free lunch after the caterers fled from the dining halls fearing for their lives.

The dining halls became a free for all

They threatened to form an alliance against Development Studies students.

More details to follow…

Sukoluhle Ndlovu, Midlands Correspondent
An ex-convict from Gweru allegedly fatally struck his aunt several times on the head and body with an axe following a dispute over high television volume.

The incident occurred on Tuesday around 3PM near Apostolic Faith Mission church in Southdowns suburb.

Chona Fernandos (34) of 9 Cloverly Crescent in the same area tracked down his aunt Ms Julie Davidets (53) who was on her way to report him to the police following their altercation.

He then struck her several times on the head and body and she died on the spot.

Midlands acting provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende could not be reached for a comment as she was said to be out of office while her mobile phone went unanswered.

A Chronicle news crew visited the scene of the murder yesterday around 10AM and noticed that Julie’s blood had been covered with soil while neighbours were showing each other the spot.

At 9 Cloverly Crescent, there was only Chona’s mother and sister to Julie, Ms Elizabeth Davidets.

In an interview, Ms Davidets said her son and younger sister had a long history of fighting even over petty issues.

“These two have a long history of fighting everyday and always over minor things. On Tuesday afternoon, Chona was watching TV and Julie complained that the volume was very high. Julie went on to reduce the volume while Chona was watching a programme resulting in a serious argument and they started swearing at each other,” she said.

Ms Davidets said her son was an ex-convict adding that in the heat of the moment, Julie called him a homosexual.

“Julie called Chona a jail bird and accused him of being a homosexual since he had served some time in jail. That angered Chona and he took an axe and attempted to strike Julie with it. Chona accused her of treating him differently from the other children,” she said.

Ms Davidets said she managed to stop the fight before Julie left the house threatening to report Chona to the police.

“While l was still at home, my neighbour Ruth called me and said something bad had happened. She took me to the scene and l saw Julie lying in a pool of blood. She was already dead and my son was nowhere to be found,” she said.

Ms Davidets said the matter was reported to the police leading to her son’s arrest.

Emmanuel Mapfumo

Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Court Reporter
A MASVINGO carjacker, who butchered a taxi driver in Beitbridge before robbing him of his car, was yesterday sentenced to death by hanging.

Emmanuel Mapfumo of Stand No 4 Thornhill Extension in Gutu zapped Cliff Chioza — the taxi driver — with an electroshock weapon and fatally stabbed him on the right side of the chest on October 3 last year.

The incident occurred at Mfelandawonye area in Beitbridge’s Dulivhadzimu suburb.

Bulawayo High Court Judge, Justice Francis Bere, convicted Mapfumo of robbery and murder with actual intent.

He said the murder was committed in aggravating circumstances.

“We are satisfied that the murder was committed in aggravating circumstances. The accused person terminated the deceased’s life in a callous manner. The aggravating circumstances far outweigh the mitigatory factors,” said the judge.

Justice Bere said Mapfumo’s conduct was motivated by greed.

“The deceased died a violent and painful death not because he had committed a crime, but for merely trying to eke out a decent living through his taxi business. However, sadly for all this, the accused person saw it fit to terminate his life and it is clear that he (Mapfumo) was motivated by nothing else but greed.” he said.

“If you want a life of comfort you must sweat for it. The lesson must go out loud and clear that the sanctity of life should be protected and no one must harvest where they did not sow.”

In passing the sentence, Justice Bere said Mapfumo deserved to be permanently removed from society.

“The accused person unnecessarily ended an innocent man’s life. We believe we would have betrayed or failed society if we are swayed into passing a sentence other than a death penalty. Those who don’t respect other people’s lives should also have their lives terminated and accordingly, our conviction is that accused person must be permanently removed from society. The sentence of this court is that you be returned to custody and that the sentence of death executed upon you according to the law,” ruled Justice Bere.

On being asked why a death penalty should not be imposed on him, Mapfumo said he had reformed while in remand prison and deserved to be given a second chance through a custodial sentence.

“I admit that I committed the murder, but it was not my intention to kill the deceased. I have reformed after having spent six months in remand prison and I therefore plead for leniency. May the court pass a custodial sentence that would allow me to reunite with my family,” he said.

Justice Bere reminded Mapfumo of his automatic right of appeal against both conviction and sentence at the Supreme Court.

Prosecuting, Mr Thompson Hove said on October 3 last year at around 1AM, Chioza parked his taxi, a Honda Fit, outside Kalahari Sports Bar in Beitbridge.

The court heard that Mapfumo emerged from the bar with his “new” girlfriend Perfedious Moyo, a commercial sex worker. The two hired Chioza to take them to a house in Mfelandawonye area where they said they wanted to be intimate.

Mr Hove said at the woman’s house, Mapfumo ordered her to go inside the house and prepare the bed.

“Mapfumo then remained with Chioza whom he jolted with a high voltage taser and ordered him to surrender his car,” he said.

When Chioza tried to resist, Mapfumo pulled out an Okapi knife and stabbed the deceased twice on the chest and threw him out of the vehicle. He then sped off in Chioza’s vehicle living him lying in a pool of blood.

Residents spotted Chioza and informed the police who rushed the taxi driver to Beitbridge District Hospital where he was certified dead by doctors upon arrival. According to a postmortem report, the cause of death was deep stab wound on the chest, hypovolaemic shock and pneumohaemothorax.

Soon after committing the offence, Mapfumo went to Chatsworth where he sold Chioza’s cell phone. He, however, ran out of luck when he was arrested by detectives at a tollgate along the Harare-Mazowe road while driving the stolen vehicle on his way to a church meeting.

The detectives searched the vehicle leading to the recovery of the electric shocker and Okapi knife. They also recovered the cell phone at Chatsworth where it had been sold to another person.

Mr Pasipanodya Mukondo of Danziger and Partners represented Mapfumo.

@mashnets

Mr and Mrs Mugabe

Farirai Machivenyika, Harare Bureau
FORMER President Mr Robert Mugabe and his family have admitted to externalising funds after buying two properties in South Africa and Hong Kong during his reign.

The admission, which was made by the former First Lady Grace in an interview the Mugabes had with selected journalists at their blue roof mansion in Harare last week, has exposed the hypocrisy of  Mr Mugabe who in 2004 arrested former finance minister, Chris Kuruneri, accusing him of externalising money to buy a mansion in Cape Town.

According to a story in South Africa’s Sunday Times, the Mugabes declared to authorities that they had bought two properties in South Africa and Hong Kong.

“In South Africa I bought a dilapidated house, I wanted to bring it down, demolish some parts and to renovate the house,” Mrs Mugabe said.

The former First Lady also admitted to renting a house in Dubai for Robert Mugabe Junior when he was studying there and reportedly paid $500 000 per annum in rentals.

According to media reports, the Hong Kong property was bought for HK$40 million in 2009 just before the former President’s daughter Bona Chikore was about to begin studies at the University of Hong Kong.

The value of the South African property could not be ascertained although the former First Family has in the past been reported to own a R44 million property in Johannesburg.

The declaration of the assets by the Mugabe family follows President Mnangagwa’s three month moratorium on those that had externalised funds to return them.

Former Finance Minister, Dr Chris Kuruneri, was arrested in April 2004 on seven counts of breaching the country’s exchange control laws.

He was accused of transferring U$500 000, £37 000, €30 000 and R1.2m to South Africa to buy and renovate an eight-bedroom mansion.

The High Court cleared him after spending more than a year in remand prison.

He also spent time under house arrest.

Dr Kuruneri was arrested at the height of the Government’s anti-graft crusade in 2004, becoming the most senior official to face charges of corruption.

The ex-minister had always denied charges of funnelling foreign currency to South Africa to buy a mansion in an upscale Cape Town suburb and a luxury car.

President Mnangagwa’s moratorium on looters expired last Friday and a list of those that had not heeded his calls was published on Monday.

Out of the $1,3 billion that is estimated to have been externalised only $300 million has been returned.

Government noted 1 166 cases of externalisation.

Apart from those that have returned the money, others are still negotiating on modalities to get it back as it is tied up in properties and other investments.

Approximately $680 million is tied up in those circumstances.

President Mnangagwa has said individuals and entities that have not heeded his call for the money to be returned will face prosecution as required by law.

His administration has declared war on corruption in a bid to turn around the economy.

Under Mr Mugabe’s administration, the country witnessed rampant and unabated corruption which suffocated the economy.

Mr Mugabe would publicly threaten to deal with corruption but never took action even though it is believed he knew the culprits.

Unlike Mr Mugabe, President Mnangagwa has vowed to arrest anyone engaging in corruption and a number of former ministers have appeared in court charged with graft.

Thupeyo Muleya

A grade 4 pupil died on Thursday morning after being mauled by four vicious dogs on Wednesday in Beitbridge.

It is understood that the girl was attacked by the dogs along Arcacia Drive while coming from school at around 4pm.

“She was taken to hospital and was in the intensive care unit where she died this morning. The matter was then reported to the police,” said a source close to the case.

The deceased name is yet to be established.

According to sources, the girl was attacked by the dogs which had strayed from a house in the low density suburbs of Beitbridge.

The police officer commanding Beitbridge Chief Superintendent Francis Phiri said the matter was still under investigations.

“We received such a report and are still conducting investigations,” he said.

Karo Resources’ representative Loucus Pouroulis

Zimbabwe has signed a $4,2 billion platinum investment agreement with Cyprian company Karo Resources at Munhumutapa this morning.

The agreement was signed by Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando and Karo Resources’ Loucus Pouroulis at a ceremony witnessed by President Mnangagwa.

Minister Winston Chitando

More to follow…

VP Kembo Mohadi

Pamela Shumba, Senior Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Hospitals Doctors’ Association (ZHDA) and the Government have reached an agreement on the salary negotiations.

The agreement was reached after a meeting was held on Wednesday between consultants representing doctors and Acting President, General Constantine Chiwenga (Retired), who was accompanied by Vice President Kembo Mohadi.

The meeting was meant to resolve the issue of the industrial action by doctors, which had stretched for more than three weeks.

Doctors downed tools on March 1 after petitioning Government to address their issues, which included allowance payments and provisions of medicine and equipment at hospitals.

According to a statement by ZHDA yesterday, Acting President Chiwenga promised the doctors, among other benefits, an increment of on-call allowances from $1, 50 to $5 per hour, an increase in rural medical allowances, to withdraw its statement advising cessation of salaries and ensure that there is no victimisation of doctors.

“Consultants informed the ZHDA executive that they had met Acting President Chiwenga and VP Mohadi and they resolved to immediately rescind the letter advising cessation of salaries. This means that every doctor on industrial action is to get their full salary.

“The Acting President also promised to increase our on call allowances from $1,50 to $5 per hour, while there is a road map to ultimately increase it to $10 per hour. This means that from the current $360 per month of on call, interns are set to earn $800 per month of on call allowance,” said ZHDA.

The association added that Acting President Chiwenga also promised to increase their rural and medical allowances and ensure that there will be no victimisation, salary cuts and repeating of rotations.

“The leadership agreed that members who already have repeats stretching outside their contracts should be paid for those months.

They agreed that hospital administration and procurement should be done by personnel with medical background.

“The Acting President also agreed to ensure that the vehicle loan scheme will be functional and underway and also ensure that no doctor will go unemployed,” said the association.

ZHDA applauded the resolutions made by Acting President Chiwenga, saying they were certain that the promises will be fulfilled.

“We know he’s a man of action and he’ll effect these pledges with utmost good faith. In the same vein, the ZHDA executive would like to thank its consultants for their gesture and efforts to find a solution to the impasse. Their efforts will go a long way in resolving these issues,” said the association.

ZHDA spokesperson, Dr Mxolisi Ngwenya, yesterday said they consulted their members, who said they are waiting to see the promises in print.—@pamelashumba1

The late Portia Ndlovu

Whinsley Masara, Chronicle Reporter
A ZIMBABWEAN man based in South Africa slit his ex-wife’s throat, kept the body in his room  before hanging himself in his employer’s office three days later.

Bekithemba Moyo (27), from Gonde Village in Plumtree killed Portia Ndlovu (22) of Diba area in Plumtree on Saturday after she refused to give him a second chance having ditched her himself.

He murdered her in a cottage within his employer’s home. The couple have a one-year-old son.

The finding of Moyo’s lifeless body in his employer’s office led to the discovery of Ndlovu’s naked and decomposing body which lay in a mass of dried blood in his bedroom at his employer’s home.

Zimbabwe’s consul general to South Africa, Mr Batiraishe Mukonoweshuro, yesterday confirmed the incident but said he would comment further today after getting more details.

A source close to the tragedy said Ndlovu left a relative’s home to meet Moyo, after he had called her to collect some money for their child’s upkeep.

“We suspect he killed her on that very night and kept the body inside his room. On Monday he left for work with his employer, returned and actually slept with the body in his room. Again, his employer informed us that they went to work at his factory premises near Bramley Police Station.

“When they arrived home that evening, Moyo asked for the factory keys, claiming he had forgotten something. Realising he had taken too long to return, his employer tried phoning him but he was unreachable. He decided to drive back to office, only to find Moyo hanging from the roof of one of his offices,” said the source.

Bekithemba Moyo

The matter was reported to police and Moyo’s family was contacted.

Moyo and Ndlovu’s cellphones, were found smashed to pieces next to his body.

Sources said Ndlovu’s family read the news of Moyo’s death on social media, prompting them to become curious about her whereabouts.

“On Wednesday morning both Moyo and Ndlovu’s families went to his employer’s home. A bad smell alerted them of the grisly killing as they approached his bedroom. Ndlovu’s throat was cut open and her body was covered with a blanket.”

“Moyo, we are told, dumped Ndlovu in January and told her to return to her parents. The couple had fought constantly with Moyo having sent Portia packing on many occasions,” said the source.

“He threw her out of the house many times but after she had finally abided by his order and left him in January, he began to stalk her through WhatsApp, begging her to return to him.”

The source said it was sad that Moyo had killed Ndlovu after she had picked herself up and had moved on.

“Moyo thought Portia would crumble after leaving him but when he saw her glowing and happy, he began to communicate with her, threatening her. On many occasions he phoned her demanding that she stops putting her new boyfriend, Lucky, on her WhatsApp profile.”

The source said her family had started searching for Ndlovu frantically, when they received news of Moyo’s suicide.

“They were shaken. They contacted Moyo’s family, informing them that Ndlovu was missing.

“On Wednesday morning they discovered her body in Moyo’s bedroom,” said the source.—@winnie_masara

Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent

THE Advocate Nelson Chamisa led MDC-T today fired its alienated deputy Dr Thokozani Khupe and two other senior officials.

The party has been disintegrating following power struggles culminating from the death of its founding president Morgan Tsvangirai last month.

The power struggle degenerated into violence with Adv Chamisa’s camp and Dr Khupe’s faction taking each other to court over the skirmishes.

Dr Khupe was fired together with the organising secretary, Mr Abednigo Bhebhe  and party spokesperson Mr Obert Gutu, following a national council meeting.

More to follow…

President Mnangagwa cuts the ribbon to officially open Willowton Refinery Plant in Mutare

Farirai Machivenyika in Mutare
President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday officially opened the $40 million Willowton Group’s refinery plant in Mutare and commended the company for responding to Government’s call for beneficiation of agricultural produce.

The ceremony was attended by senior Government officials and others drawn from the Mutare business community and across the country. The company manufactures soap and cooking oil although there are plans to venture into candles, margarine and rice production.

“I would like to heartily congratulate Willowton Group following their bold and perceptive decision to invest in Zimbabwe. This new facility is indeed a demonstration of the confidence you have shown in our trade and investment climate,” President Mnangagwa said.

He said the entry of Willowton into the local market had brought healthy competition and was in sync with Government’s calls for decentralisation.

“This huge investment complements Government’s calls for value addition and beneficiation of our primary produce from the agricultural sector, such as soya beans and sunflower among others. Furthermore, this initiative is in line with the country’s economic policy which recognises the role of foreign direct investment and revival as it results in modern technology, new expertise, management practices and leadership skills,” said Cde Mnangagwa

The President said the event had been preceded by the commissioning of Nestle’ Zimbabwe’s state of the art Cremora filling and packaging plant and exposed the many opportunitites in the manufacturing sector.

“This is a very good example and success story of import substitution with the ‘Proudly made in Zimbabwe’ products. In this regard, I exhort the Buy Zimbabwe campaign team to scale up their drive and encourage the purchase of locally produced products in line with our thrust to resuscitate and re-industrialise our manufacturing sector.

“Furthermore, we should continue to eanerstly pursue our local content policy and develop agro-value chains which increase capacity utilisation and broaden the economic space through greater involvement of SMEs and entrepreneurs,” President Mnangagwa said.

He urged players in the oil expressing sector to develop well resourced soya bean outgrower schemes to increase the supply of requisite raw material.
“My Government, on its part, will continue to support the production of this essential raw material through the Command Soya Bean Production Programme,” he said.

The President reiterated that Zimbabwe was ready to engage other investors to achieve economic growth.

“As you are aware, numerous business delegations from across the world have shown great interest to invest in Zimbabwe, the latest being about 60 business executives in Kigali, Rwanda we met on the sidelines of the AU Summit on Wednesday this week.

The President is shown some of the company’s products as he tours the plant yesterday

“This is indeed ample testimony of the bright future ahead and the potential of our great nation,” President Mnangagwa said. He said Zimbabwe had so far received at least $7 billion in investment commitments since the coming in of the new dispensation, way above the $400 million that the country got annually under the old Government.

“My Government will continue to eliminate all investment impediments, bureaucratic bottlenecks, public sector lethargy, deliberate inefficiencies and corruption. Zimbabwe is open for business in all and every facet, for the ultimate good of the generality of the citizens of Zimbabwe.

“Whoever, by whatever means, decides to stand in the way, will definitely fall by the wayside,” warned the President.

Willowton Group chief executive officer Mr Bruce Henderson encouraged other players to invest in Zimbabwe.

“This is the type of investment we seek to encourage here in Zimbabwe, world class brands for Zimbabwe and the region,” he said.

Mr Henderson said they came to Zimbabwe in 2014 and production at the plant began in 2016. The company is producing 6 000 tonnes of cooking oil, 5 000 tonnes of green bar soap and 1 000 tonnes of beauty soap per month.

Morgen Komichi

Nduduzo Tshuma /Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Reporters
MDC-T yesterday fired one of its vice presidents, Dr Thokozani Khupe, national organising secretary Mr Abednigo Bhebhe and spokesperson Mr Obert Gutu for “unconstitutional behaviour, holding illegal meetings and bringing the party’s name into disrepute.”

The resolution was made during the meeting of the party’s national council, the supreme-decision-making body in between congresses, in Harare which also formally accepted the resignation of Mr Lovemore Moyo from the MDC-T and his position as national chairman.

The expulsion of the three brings to an end a dramatic battle for the control of the MDC-T that has dragged for more than a month.

In a statement, the party’s deputy national chairperson, Mr Morgen Komichi said the trio was also accused of holding illegal meetings and throwing the party into disrepute.

“On VP Khupe, the national council noted the efforts for engagement made by the party president (Advocate Nelson Chamisa) but VP Khupe remained stubborn, obdurate, intransigent and spurned all party efforts to address her grievances as she continued to hold illegal meetings and partake in unconstitutional activities, putting the party into disrepute and undermining the constitutional organs of the party. The national council therefore resolved, by more than the mandatory two thirds of the vote that VP Khupe be removed from the party in terms of the party constitution,” said Mr Komichi.

He said the party formally accepted Mr Moyo’s resignation tendered on Thursday and wished him well in his future endeavours.

Mr Moyo cited what he called the unconstitutional power grab by party leader Mr Chamisa, sexism, tribalism and violence in the MDC-T as reasons for his resignation.

“On organising secretary Hon Abednigo Bhebhe, the national council by more than the mandatory two thirds of the vote resolved to remove him from the party on allegations of his unconstitutional behaviour and for continuously putting the party into disrepute,” said Mr Komichi.

“On suspended party spokesperson Mr Obert Chaurura Gutu, the national council resolved by a unanimous vote to expel him.” Mr Komichi said the party also resolved to recall Dr Khupe and Mr Bhebhe from Parliament with immediate effect. Mr Bhebhe represented Nkayi South while Dr Khupe was under the proportional representation.

MDC-T presidential spokesperson Mr Luke Tamborinyoka said after the national council ultimatum calling Dr Khupe and her colleagues to order elapsed on March 8, Mr Chamisa personally engaged the former Deputy Prime Minister in Bulawayo.

“I can tell you he met her in Bulawayo for five hours and the meeting stretched until 1AM in an attempt to resolve the impasse. This was far beyond the ultimatum that was given by the national council, all this speaks to efforts to engage our former Cde,” said Mr Tamborinyoka.

Mr Gutu, however, dismissed their expulsion as a “big joke” arguing that they are the real MDC-T. He dismissed the national council and Mr Chamisa as renegades.

Dr Khupe has been involved in a vicious battle over the control of the MDC-T from the days leading to the death of party founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who died in February and after his burial.

Despite Mr Chamisa’s endorsement by the MDC-T national executive as the party’s leader, Dr Khupe has refused to recognise him arguing that she was the rightful heir to the presidency on the basis that she is the only elected official among the late Tsvangirai’s deputies.

Before Mr Tsvangirai’s death, Dr Khupe, Mr Moyo and Mr Bhebhe had fallen out with him over the formation of an alliance of opposition parties to challenge the ruling Zanu-PF in this year’s election.

Inspector Simango Precious

Andile Tshuma, Chronicle Reporter
A 19-YEAR-OLD domestic worker from Bulawayo beat up two knife-wielding men and sent them fleeing after they broke into a house and tried to rape her and her employer’s daughters aged seven and 14 years.

Police tracked down the would-be rapists less than an hour after they “escaped” from the house, with the pint sized maid in pursuit.

Sniffer dogs followed a trail of blood left by one of the assailants who was stabbed by the “super maid” after she disarmed him.

The incident which has set Trenance suburb abuzz occurred on Thursday last week between 9 and 10 PM.

The maid, who asked not to be named or photographed, told The Chronicle she became aware there were intruders trying to break into the house as she knelt down for her evening prayers.

She said within minutes, two men armed with knives had entered the house.

“They rounded us up into one room. One of them stood at the door while the other ordered me and my employer’s children to undress and lie on the bed,” said the domestic worker who still appeared shaken.

She said the children undressed out of fear but she stood her ground.

“One of the men ordered the children to twerk while lying on the bed. He stripped and watched them while playing with his manhood until he ejaculated,” she said.

The men, said the domestic worker, threatened to slit her throat and announced they would rape all of them.

“The naked one who was masturbating got distracted as he watched his friend who was threatening me and I grabbed his knife,” said the domestic worker.

“In the scuffle, I held the handle and he grabbed the blade, which cut his palm. He started biting me and I kept stabbing his hands. He bit into my neck and I bit his thumb until he screamed, begging me to let go,” she said.

The woman said when she finally broke free and faced the two men, they took to their heels.

“When police finally came, there was semen and blood all over the house. Our landlord who was away when the these knife wielding men pounced, fired some shots to ensure the rogues did not return when we told him what had happened,” she said.

The police dog section, she said, had the easiest of tasks to track down assailants who were hiding in a nearby bush.

Finishing her narrative between sobs, the maid said the experience taught her never to go to bed without praying.

“If I had not prayed that night, I might not have seen the men until it was too late. I feel violated because it was my first time to see a naked grown up man,” she said.

The heroic maid’s employer said she had gone away on business when the incident occurred.

“This helper that I have is a Godsend. She put her own life on the line, fighting thugs just to save my children from rape and who knows what else,” she said.

The woman said her children had been having nightmares since the attack and throw up after eating.

A neighbour, Mr Amon Sibanda, heaped praises on the domestic worker.

“I am impressed and at a loss for words at this girl’s selfless actions. We are always hearing stories of horror maids abusing children or conniving with criminals but she has restored my faith in domestic helpers. She did what some parents would not have been able to do and she deserves a medal,” said Mr Sibanda.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango confirmed the incident but could not give further details as the case has been handed over to the courts.

“I cannot comment on the matter because it is now before the courts,” said Inspector Simango. — @andile_tshuma.